First roll out the dough. |
Gently toss in the air making sure to use closed hands. |
Give it a little twist. |
Before I explain why they toss the dough, let me teach you how to go about it at home. First make a batch of pizza dough. I would recommend doing this practice run when you know that you are home alone. After you make the dough, roll it out, again make sure you are home alone, pick up the dough and start practicing. It's a twist, toss into the air, and catch with fists. Start out with little tosses until you get the hang of it. Don't worry about messing up, remember you are alone in the house. Practice makes perfect. Twist, turn, toss, catch with fists, start again with a little harder toss, twist, turn, catch. It does not take long to get the hang of it.
Make sure to catch it with closed fists and start again. |
Over the years as I would teach pizza classes I would be asked to toss the dough. I never would, knowing that it would land on my head. So one night when the family was gone I made a batch of dough. Feeling very confident after tossing a few I went to the back yard and tossed the dough. It was amazing. It went about ten feet up and floated down like a cloud. I was feeling super. Anxiously reached up to catch the dough with all fingers sticking straight out. What a toss and what a catch. I caught the dough, and it had ten large holes in it. I was so glad that I was alone, and my family never witnessed my first attempts at tossing dough. When I finally did make my debut in tossing dough, I left an image of perfection in their minds. They thought I was so cool. I never told them the hours I practiced alone. They didn't need to know that. Is all they needed to know is that Dad was cool. He could toss dough.
So why do they toss the dough. It does help the dough relax. If you are having trouble rolling out the dough, give it a couple of tosses in the air and it will roll out better. It also stretches the dough, making it larger.
But I think the real reason is, it looks cool. So whip up some dough and start practicing. Become the cool pizza tosser in your family. That is a memory they will love and cherish forever. So my recommendation is Toss the Dough, but practice first.
That's a great post! I think i'll give it a whirl!
ReplyDeleteSo excited to come across your blog chef Brad!! I LOVE your show on byutv! I got a new electric pressure cooker for Christmas all because of you.... and I LOVE IT!! You have such a sweet personality and I'm so excited to read your posts!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all you do!
Emilee Davis,
Washington